Espresso Tastes Bitter and/or Sour: That Could be the Reason

If your espresso doesn’t taste the way it should, you probably want to find out what’s causing it. In this article, we will explain why your espresso tastes bitter and/or sour and how you can do something about it.

Espresso is too bitter

Here is a list of reasons why the espresso might be too bitter.

• The wrong bean: either Robusta or Arabica coffee beans are commonly used. Robusta has a much stronger taste than Arabica. Maybe you use Robusta and find it too bitter. Maybe switch to Arabica coffee.
• Ground too fine: Finely ground coffee releases a lot of flavors quickly. If you have the opportunity to grind your coffee yourself, next time choose a coarser grit.
• The Coffee Maker: There are two factors directly related to the coffee maker that can make the espresso bitter. If espresso becomes bitter, either the coffee powder has been in contact with the water for too long or the brewing pressure of the coffee machine is significantly too high. It should be a maximum of ten bars.
• Water temperature: Water that is too hot can also make espresso bitter. So brew it at a maximum of 95 degrees Celsius.
• Too much powder with too little water: If the ratio of water and coffee powder is not right, i.e. you use too much powder with too little water, the espresso can also become very bitter. Try a different ratio.

Espresso is too acidic

If your espresso is too acidic, here are a few points that might help.

• Too coarsely ground: Coffee that has been ground too coarsely often does not develop its full aroma and becomes slightly sour as a result. A slightly finer grit may solve the problem.
• Roast: Everyone has different tastes when it comes to the armor of their coffee. If you find your espresso too acidic, it may be because the roast is not right. Try a darker roast.
• The coffee machine: With sour espresso, the exact opposite of what is said above about bitter espresso applies. With sour espresso, the brewing water is usually not in contact with the espresso powder for long enough. Alternatively, the brewing pressure of the machine may not be optimal. If the espresso is acidic, the pressure may be too low.
• The water temperature: Just like grinding too coarsely, boiling the espresso with water that is too cold does not release enough flavors from the powder. If in doubt, simply increase the temperature when making espresso.
• Too little powder with too much water: Sour espresso can also be due to incorrect dosing of espresso powder and water. If necessary, try out whether the taste improves if you use more powder with the same amount of water.
• Sour beans: Sometimes sour coffee or espresso can be traced back to sour coffee beans. I.e. on isolated beans that are of poor quality and therefore do not taste good. Since these beans naturally also give off their flavor, they can mess up the entire flavor of a cup of espresso.